The Jefferson County Health Department has canceled about 1,900 “unauthorized” COVID-19 vaccine appointments for Monday (March 1) and Tuesday (March 2).
Those appointments were made using a registration link someone shared on social media, rather than after getting a notification from the Health Department that they were eligible for the vaccine under the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, according to a written statement.
Health Department officials reported that people eligible for the vaccine were emailed a registration link for an appointment and then someone shared that link on social media and people who were not yet eligible for the vaccine used the link to make the unauthorized appointments. The Health Department discovered the problem when cross-referencing email addresses.
The approximately 1,900 people who used the link may not have realized they were making unauthorized appointments, but the Health Department canceled all those appointments to “maintain the integrity of the registration process,” the Health Department said.
“We recognize that this may cause frustration for impacted individuals, but it is the only way to honor the legitimate registrations of those who completed the process and waited their turn in line for an appointment,” Health Department Director Kelley Vollmar said. “Registration links are meant specifically for the individual who receives the email and is their personal opportunity to receive the vaccine. If the link is made public or shared with others, then it robs other invitees of the same opportunity to receive their long-awaited vaccine.”
The Health Department said it would contact those who made the unauthorized appointments by phone or email to let them know their appointments had been canceled.
The Health Department, which plans to provide 3,000 Moderna vaccines at the two-day clinic on Monday and Tuesday, must follow the state’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan, which prioritizes people based on occupation, age and health risks. Anyone who wants to get the vaccine through the Health Department must complete an interest survey at jeffcohealth.org. People without internet access may call the Health Department registration line at 636-789-8941.
Vollmar said more vaccination clinics will be held, and she believes the Health Department will be able to give 600 doses per week moving forward.
Comtrea, which also offers health care services around the county, has several upcoming vaccine clinics, too.
Marketing communications manager Nathanael Herbert said a first dose community clinics will be held Friday (Feb. 26) in Festus, Monday in Arnold and Wednesday (March 3) in Festus and Arnold. He said 200 vaccines will be administered at each of the clinics.
Comtrea is also planning first dose community clinics for March 9, March 16, March 23 and March 30. He said 400 vaccines will be provided at each of those clinics.
Herbert said 11 second dose clinics are planned for February and March. He said starting in April, Comtrea will offer 400 second dose every Wednesday in Festus and Arnold, with 200 second doses given at each location.
Both the Health Department and Comtrea give all vaccines by appointment only and will contact people who have registered for the vaccine and who are eligible to receive it under the state’s distribution plan to set up the appointments.
To register with Comtrea, visit comtrea.org/vaccine-inquiry.
Only those who are included in Phase 1A, Phase 1B Tier 1 and Phase 1B Tier 2 of the state’s vaccine distribution plan may receive the vaccines at this time. For more information about the state’s vaccine plan, go to covidvaccine.mo.gov.
Mercy also has created an online sign-up method to help distribute vaccines to those eligible under the state’s vaccination plan. To sign up with Mercy, go to mercy.net/MOVaccine.
Other hospital systems and pharmacies also are registering people for the vaccines.
Health Department board meeting
The Health Department Board of Trustees voted 3-2 today (Feb. 25) to extend the county face mask order until March 25.
Board chairperson Dennis Diehl and board members Amber Henry and Tim Pigg voted to extend the order, and board members James Prater and Suzy Davis voted against the measure.
If the order had not been extended, it would have ended at 5 p.m. today.
The order requires residents to wear face masks in public spaces when social distancing cannot be maintained, but it does not call for any type of fine or penalty for people who violate it.
The order is a joint order with the county government that is intended to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
The county’s mask order originally went into effect Nov. 27, and the board extended it on Dec. 21, again on Jan. 21 and then today.
The board also voted 5-0 to end the Health Department’s contract with Maximus, which has been providing COVID-19 contact tracing. The board originally approved the contract in November and voted to renew the contract every month until now.
The board also voted 5-0 to purchase property near the intersection of highways 21 and B in Hillsboro.
Diehl said a new Health Department building will be built on the land.
No information about the size of the parcel of the purchase price was given during the meeting, and a Leader reporter left a message asking for the information, which had not yet been answered this evening.
Diehl said the current Hillsboro Health Department building at 405 Main St. is more than 70 years old and needs to be replaced.
“We have outgrown it; it's not in disrepair, but it needs a lot of upkeep,” Diehl said.
Watch the Leader website and newspapers for a more detailed story about the property purchase.
COVID-19 stats
The Health Department reported 44 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total number of cases in the county to 21,562 since the pandemic started.
Of those cases, 1,336 have been at long-term care facilities, which includes residents and staff members who live in Jefferson County, the Health Department reported.
Of the county’s 209 COVID-19 deaths, 77 have been from long-term care facilities.
The county remains in the orange status on the Health Department’s COVID-19 warning system, the second highest level on the four-color system.
The orange status indicates widespread but controlled transmission of the coronavirus.
Even though new COVID-19 cases have been on the decline, Health Department officials say it’s still important to continue taking steps to limit the spread of the virus, such as limiting nonessential travel, avoiding crowds, wearing masks, practicing social distancing and frequent hand-washing, and staying home when you are sick.
